HF 870: A bill for an act relating to students who attend a course in religious instruction that is provided by a private organization, including by modifying provisions related to compulsory education and chronic absenteeism. - Iowa

Enrolled with Governor's Action → Reprinted · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill adds a new section to Iowa law allowing students to attend religious instruction courses during the school day without being counted as chronically absent, provided specific requirements are met. The changes clarify that absences for religious instruction do not count toward the ten percent threshold for chronic absenteeism and establish rules for notification, attendance tracking, and liability.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of religious instruction exemptions to include specific requirements for private organizations and schools, while also modifying the definition of chronic absenteeism to exclude religious instruction absences.

REQUIREMENT

New section 299.1D establishes six requirements for religious instruction courses, including notification to schools, maximum five-hour weekly attendance limits, attendance record maintenance by private organizations, transportation provision, liability assumption, and prohibition of school district funding.

Schools must excuse students from attendance for at least one hour but no more than five hours per week to allow participation in religious instruction courses when all requirements are satisfied.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'chronically absent' in section 299.12 is modified to exclude absences related to religious instruction courses from the ten percent threshold calculation.

ENFORCEMENT

New provisions allow parents or guardians to bring civil actions for injunctive relief and actual damages against school districts that violate the religious instruction attendance provisions, with court costs and attorney fees awarded to prevailing parties.

Enrolled → Enrolled with Governor's Action · 4 edits · Jun 6, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add provisions allowing charter schools and innovation zone schools to adopt policies for awarding academic credit for religious instruction courses, similar to what school districts can do. The bill also added a new section establishing requirements for academic credit policies and updated the chronic absenteeism definition to exclude absences for religious instruction courses.

Scope change

Expanded applicability from only school districts to include charter schools and innovation zone schools regarding academic credit policies for religious instruction courses.

SCOPE

Added provisions allowing charter schools and innovation zone schools to adopt policies for awarding academic credit for religious instruction courses, matching the authority previously held by school districts.

REQUIREMENT

Added new section 279.87 establishing specific requirements for academic credit policies, including prohibiting consideration of religious content and requiring review of syllabi and instructor qualifications.

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of 'chronically absent' in section 299.12 to explicitly exclude absences related to religious instruction courses from the calculation.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions requiring charter and innovation zone schools to comply with the same requirements as school districts when awarding academic credit for religious instruction courses.

Introduced → Signed Enrolled Bill (PDF) · 5 edits · Jun 6, 2025

MODERATE

This bill allows students to attend religious instruction courses provided by private organizations without counting those absences toward compulsory education or chronic absenteeism requirements. It establishes specific conditions for schools to award academic credit for these courses and prohibits schools from considering religious content when evaluating course compliance. The legislation also creates a legal remedy for parents or guardians who believe their school district violated these provisions.

Scope change

Expanded to include charter schools and innovation zone schools alongside traditional school districts for adopting religious instruction credit policies; added specific requirements for private organizations providing instruction

ELIGIBILITY

Added new section 299.1D establishing specific requirements for students attending religious instruction courses, including notification procedures, attendance record maintenance, transportation provisions, liability assumptions, and restrictions on school funding for these courses

DEFINITION

Modified the definition of 'chronically absent' in section 299.12 to exclude absences related to attending approved religious instruction courses from truancy counts

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that schools excuse students from at least one hour but no more than five hours of weekly attendance to allow participation in religious instruction courses when requirements are met

Added prohibition requiring schools to not consider religious content or denominational affiliation when determining if a religious instruction course meets education program requirements

ENFORCEMENT

Added civil action provisions allowing parents, guardians, or children to sue school districts for injunctive relief and damages if religious instruction provisions are violated, with court costs and attorney fees awarded to prevailing parties

Signed Enrolled Bill (PDF) → Enrolled · 3 edits · Jun 6, 2025

MINOR

The bill was signed into law and finalized as an enrolled bill, with minor formatting changes to the signature block. The substantive policy content remains unchanged, establishing rules for students attending religious instruction courses during the school day.

TECHNICAL

Removed Governor Kim Reynolds' signature line and date stamp from the top of the document, which was part of the transmission letter rather than the final enrolled bill text.

Added House and Senate leadership signatures (Speaker Pat Grassley and President Amy Sinclair) and Chief Clerk Meghan Nelson's certification to the enrolled bill, confirming legislative approval.

Adjusted formatting of the signature block and removed decorative elements and transmission letter content from the final enrolled version.

A bill for an act relating to students who attend a course in religious instruction that is provided by a private organization, including by modifying provisions related to compulsory education and chronic absenteeism.

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